Texas weather can be pretty unpredictable, especially during hurricane season. When you boat with Carefree, the enormous chore of making sure that your boat is safe during a big storm is taken care of by us! Don’t worry when a storm is headed our way ever again when you boat with Carefree Boat Club. If you are a boat owner, here are a few tips when preparing for your latest tropical storm.
- Move the boat if you can
- If you can trailer your boat, move the boat far away from tidal waters and away from trees that can fall and damage the boat.
- Once at a ‘safe place’, lash your boat & trailer and place blocks between the frame members and axle inside each wheel.
- Secure your boat with heavy nylon lines to fixed objects. If possible, find a location that will allow you to secure it from all four sides. It can be tied to screw anchors.
- Remember to pull the drain plug and remove electronics on board.
- If you can’t move the boat, protect it
- Staying at a marina berth:
- Double all lines and rig-cross spring lines fore and aft, and attach lines high on pilings to allow for tidal rise or surge.
- Secure the vessel on the offshore side to solid pilings and make sure cleats and other attachment points are strong.
- Install fenders to protect the boat from rubbing against the pier, pilings and other boats.
- Cover all lines at rough points to prevent chafing.
- Batteries should be fully charged and checked to ensure their capability to run automatic bilge pumps for the duration of the storm. Consider backup batteries.
- Cut off all devices consuming electricity except bilge pumps.
- Remaining on a mooring:
- Make sure the mooring is designed to withstand the load that will be placed on it by your vessel.
- Contact your marina or mooring provider to confirm the maximum load.
- Inspect chains and swivels that connect to the mooring buoy and double up on the mooring pendant.
- Staying at a marina berth:
- Do not stay aboard
- Hurricane winds can reach 100+ mph. Don’t procrastinate, take precautions and stay safe.
- Keep documents and insurance handy
- Consolidate your records, including insurance policies. Have a recent photo of your vessel, equipment inventory, the Hull Identification Number (HIN#), phone number for harbor master, and the lease agreement for your marina or storage facility.
- Remove all moveable equipment
- Canvas, sails, dinghies, radios, biminis, roller furling sails.
- Lash down everything you cannot remove
- Tillers, wheels, booms
- Make sure electrical system is turned off unless you plan to leave the boat in the water. Remove battery and portable fuel.
